Dissertation Research: Origin and Diversification of Pseudoscorpions on Granite Outcrops in Southwestern Australia

伪蝎子是一种至少有3300种的蛛形纲动物，分布在世界各地，但对它们的研究还很不足。这项拨款探索了一种假蝎子的进化多样化，Synsphyronus Chamberlin，它出现在澳大利亚和新西兰。本项目旨在1)评估Synsphyronus在澳大利亚西南部的多样性和进化关系，该群体在花岗岩露头形成的栖息地岛屿上多样化；2)了解Synsphyronus露头特有物种的进化起源。种群间的关系将通过DNA序列推断出来。标本也将用扫描电子显微镜检查，以寻找不同的形态特征。由此产生的系统发育将用于测试关于露头殖民化事件和特征进化的假设。生物学界面临的一个关键问题是如何描述公认的全球生物多样性热点地区的生物群，同时面临分类学家数量下降的问题，特别是在假蝎子等不太为人所知的类群中。澳大利亚西南部被认为是全球生物多样性的热点地区，虽然其植物多样性是众所周知的，但对其无脊椎动物的记录却很落后。该项目将通过与澳大利亚的一名假蝎子分类学家建立国际伙伴关系，加强研究基础设施。一名研究生将接受她的合作者的分类学培训，他们将一起描述通过她的田野调查发现的最多六个新物种。

Pseudoscorpions, an arachnid order with at least 3300 species, are distributed worldwide yet they remain understudied. This grant explores the evolutionary diversification of one genus of pseudoscorpions, Synsphyronus Chamberlin, which occurs in Australia and New Zealand. This project aims to 1) assess the diversity and evolutionary relationships of Synsphyronus in southwestern Australia, where the group has diversified on habitat islands formed by granite outcrops and 2) to understand the evolutionary origins of the outcrop-endemic species of Synsphyronus. Relationships among populations will be inferred using DNA sequences. Specimens will also be examined with scanning electronic microscopy to search for distinguishing morphological traits. The resulting phylogeny will be used to test hypotheses about outcrop colonization events and character evolution.A critical issue facing the biological community is to describe the biota of recognized global biodiversity hotspots, while facing a decline in the number of taxonomists, particularly in lesser-known groups such as pseudoscorpions. Southwestern Australia is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot and while its floristic richness is well known, documentation of its invertebrate fauna lags behind. This project will enhance the infrastructure for research through an international partnership with a pseudoscorpion taxonomist in Australia. A graduate student will be trained in taxonomy by her collaborator and together they will describe up to six new species that have been discovered through her fieldwork.